Online Trampoline Coach

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I get a few questions every week from members asking how to do a somersault, and they mention that they can do handsprings on the trampoline, or they have been practicing handsprings on the trampoline.

Handsprings are not a trampoline move, and they do not help in somersaulting on the trampoline.

The handspring is a GYMNASTIC move and as so many Gymnastic coaches also teach the trampoline, many people are taught the trampoline in a similar way to gymnastic coaching.

However, most gymnastic moves use speed and travel across the floor, neither of which are required for the trampoline. In fact, obvious injury would occur if these same techniques were used on a trampoline.

My first trampoline coach was a gymnastic coach. Everything I learned from the age of 15 to 18 years had to be undone and re-taught. As I got on to more sophisticated moves, the flaws  in my basic coaching started to show. Under a new coach, I had to start from scratch all over again. Considering I had attended a few competitions, it was difficult to go to gym and practice bouncing, tuck jumps and swivel hips for 6 months so I could totally forget the more advanced moves and re-learn them. This personal experience taught me that the trampoline moves need to be taught very differently to gymnastic coaching, and is where I got my own coaching style.

When I began coaching in 1989, I taught my students how the trampoline works, and never did moves that required knee or hand landings, as there are no trampoline moves that require a hand or knee landing. The only exception to this rule is the barani layout. As this was one of my own ‘problem moves’, I also had trouble teaching it effectively. So I do now teach this with a knee and hand landing as a progressive step.

So gymnasts - drop everything you have learned before stepping on a trampoline, and keep the handsprings and round-offs for the gymnastic floor.

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I have made some trampoline tutorial videos which show correct technique for display in the member area, including straddle jump, seat drop half twist out, swivel hips and seat drop to front drop.

Unfortunately, my computer leeps crashing when I try to upload them, so until I can get help, I have uploaded them on you tube and will display them here too.

Here’s a tutorial on the Straddle Jump:

I will post the others as soon as possible

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To teach someone to trampoline accurately, it is without a doubt easier if you can ’show’, what you are talking about. At least for the more basic skills.
Obviously, It is not expected for a trampoline coach to go performing double twisting somersaults every five minutes just to get a point across!

The most important aspect of Teaching trampoline skills is exuding confidence with your voice, and describing exactly what the trampolinist is doing.
Imagine if you are on the trampoline, it is very hard visualize if your hips and arms are in the right place, while pointing your toes, tucking your legs and ensuring you are in line with the cross in the very middle of the trampoline bed!

It’s much easier for some one else to tell you all that.

Having some one watch you while you practise a move is certainly very helpful.

The person who is going to “teach” you to trampoline will watch you closely. Are your feet in the middle? Did you take off on the cross? Did you get your arms up fast enough? Did you twist too early? Were you bouncing too high before you attempted the move?

These are all questions that may well explain why the move is not being attained.

The “watcher”, can also help by encouraging and helping the trampolinist gain confidence. Just counting “One…., Two,….. THREE! can often give the trampolinist the momentum to try the move without perpetual ‘pre-bouncing’.

Other tricks I use when I teach trampolinists, is exageration. I show them what they are doing with huge emphasis on the problem, often hurting my neck in the process!

This can also be used for exagerating the correct manouvre.
For instance, when I teach a front drop, to ensure the trampolist knows this is a BACKWARD motion, I make the trampolinist perform one at the very edge of the the trampoline, looking over the edge to the ground. Now the trampolinist knows that if she goes forwards, she is going to leap straight off the trampoline. The only thing to do is to go BACKWARDS, which is what I was trying to teach in the first place!

Keep encouraging, and if a child gets totally fixated on attempting a move over and over again without success, suggest they stop for a while and go back to it with a fresh approach at a later date.

Performing Trampoline moves under pressure is never a good idea.

As each skill is attained it is very self satisfying to watch the move being performed just right after so much effort has been put into it. This is by far one of the best things about coaching others to trampoline.

Often it is just a very quick and easy fix up. Not landing your somersault? Easy, Tuck up, squeeze your buttocks together on take off and pull that tummy in”. The students are always surprised when just pullling your tummy in can create such a difference in performing so many moves.

There are many other tips, which I will be sharing ith you either here or on my website.

If you are fustrated with a move - try contacting me with your query or you can even post a video for me to ‘watch’ and teach you!

Fay Roberts
Trampoline Coach

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